Theoretical Physics Graduate Program

Graduate research opportunities at the MSc and PhD level are available in the following areas:

Particle Phenomenology

Astroparticle Physics

Formal Particle Theory and String Theory

Gravitation and Cosmology

More information about the Theoretical Physics research program is found at the Victoria Subatomic Physics and Accelerator Research Centre website.

Degree Requirements

Students entering the graduate program at MSc level will need to complete the coursework requirements for the MSc(Physics) degree. These include 9 course units (6 one-semester classes) for an MSc, and a further 3 units (2 one-semester classes) for a PhD. For MSc students, the primary course requirements are normally completed during the fall and spring semesters of the first year. A typical core course list for incoming particle theory students is shown below. Additional courses may be taken as required in the fall or spring of the second year.

Further 4th-year courses may also be required in addition for those students who have not already completed upper level courses in quantum mechanics (see e.g. PHYS423), electromagnetism (see e.g. PHYS422), and general relativity (see e.g. PHYS415).

Additional graduate courses which may be of interest to theory students are offered by the Particle Physics, Astronomy, and Condensed Matter Physics Groups and may include:ASTR 508 CosmologyPHYS 507B Solid State Physics IIPHYS 515 Data Analysis Techniques for Physics and Astronomy